The study, the first to estimate the cost of smoking to the social care system, show Kirklees Council is being forced to fork out £4.8m to look after just 302 people – almost £16,000 per person.

A further £3.6m is spent by patients themselves.

The charity said current smokers over 50-years-old were twice as likely to need help with day-to-day living and on average needed care nine years earlier than non-smokers.

Regional figures show more than £71m is spent on social care across Yorkshire and ASH has said the multi-million pound figures could even be higher because there are no figures available for what councils spend on those aged under 50.

Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of ASH commented: “From next April, when the Care Act 2014 becomes law, councils will also have to fund the extra social care costs of preventative measures in order to reduce the need for care in people’s homes – this at a time when they face further cuts to their budgets.